LONG BEACH – Dionn Holton, a former substitute teacher who pleaded guilty to having a 15-year-old perform oral sex on him at school last semester, surrendered quietly to authorities at the Long Beach Superior Court Friday morning.

A kiss and some words of encouragement from a relative were the last things the 32-year-old experienced as a free man before deputies snapped handcuffs around his wrists and took him away to begin serving a 16-month prison term.

Holton was sentenced to state prison on May 23, but Judge Arthur Jean allowed the married father of four two weeks to get his affairs in order before Holton had to turn himself into the Long Beach Superior Court to begin serving his state prison sentence.

Holton was accompanied by an aunt, who gave him a hug and a kiss and some encouraging words before he was taken into custody, court officials said.

No statements were made Friday, but the former Poly CIF basketball champion apologized to his victim, his family, the city and the schools during his sentencing in May, saying he shamed his family and himself and would have to live with his actions for the rest of his life.

He had faced a maximum penalty of three years, eight months in prison, but the judge, noting that he believed Holton’s apology was sincere and the sex between Holton and the student was consensual, chose the lesser term.

Holton will have to serve 80 percent of his sentence and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, said Deputy District Attorney Robert Hight.

His conviction typically requires a defendant to serve time in state prison, unless a psychiatric review finds that probation and treatment are a better option and the court agrees.

And Holton did undergo two psychiatric evaluations since his guilty plea on March 20. Both medical professionals found he would benefit from counseling and probation, not prison time, his defense attorney, Leonard Matsuk, said.

In addition to the psychiatric reviews, Matsuk provided the court with letters from former students, teachers, school administrators, relatives and friends that spoke highly of Holton’s character and commitment to the community.

He and Hight both noted Holton not only admitted his guilt to police when he was first arrested in January, he also pleaded guilty to the charge in March.

The judge also noted the many letters of support and said he believed Holton could put the incident behind him, but that the nature of the crime demanded he serve time.

“You violated, deeply violated the trust of all of us,” the judge said.

Holton was convicted of having a Cabrillo High School sophomore perform oral sex on campus during school hours in October and December. He was working at the high school as a substitute teacher at the time and was employed in the school district’s substitute pool from 2000 until his arrest in January, according to school officials.

When district officials were notified of the investigation and charges, Holton was immediately fired from his position.

He was also removed from his position as a volunteer coach for Millikan High School’s varsity boys basketball team and was removed from his part-time position with the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, where he worked as a coach with children at Silverado Park and the Springdale Housing Facility.